1929 – 21st July 1983

Fact File

He was one of the indisputable members of the firm of British supporting actors who for no reason got the slightest hint of stardom. His mournful looks ensured he was used as interfering but slightly pompous characters. He was born in 1929, most familiar to the general audience from his parts in the Carry On films and similar film genre. In later years, he was often to be seen in Carry On Laughing, a 1975 TV series spin off from the carry on films. Much of his comedy work was in Shows that have never been shown since their first transmission.Such as ‘Tell It to the Marines’ where he played a character called ‘Tubby’ a series made by Rediffusion, airing between1959-60; pilfering the format of ‘The Army Game’, which had been one of ITV's first successful sitcoms, sadly it failed miserably.He was then in the 1963 series of ATV’s ‘The Larkins’ (1958-64), feasibly the first British working-class sitcom. After that he portrayed Leading Fireman Piggott in both series of ‘Fire Crackers’ for ATV between 1964-65, he was one of a team of wacky chaotic firemen, managed by Alfred Marks. Chappell then went on to play a valet-come-chauffeur called Albiein in ‘Mr. Aitch’ for Rediffusion in 1967.In the 1973 he supportied Frankie Howard in ‘Whoops Baghdad’, the BBC's follow on vehicle from the popular sitcom 'Up Pompeii', he played Imshi the head eunuch in charge of the harem.The only time Chappell topped the bill was in a sitcom pilot, ‘Three In a Bed ‘made by Thames in 1972, it was really intended to push the fledgling careers of Little and Large. Chappell appeared in ‘The Jimmy Tarbuck Show’ for ATV between 1974-75, stoodging for the comic, and was next seen in the 1976 series of ‘Sez Les’, staring popular comedian Les Dawson, made this time by Yorkshire Television.Chappell's final series was in 1983 called 'For 4 Tonight’, a talk show parody on Channel 4 in which he was one of a team of actors playing the guests.On the 21st July 1983 he was found dead at his mother's house at the relative young age of 53.

Related Video

Here as Imshi the the eunuch in the first episode of the Seires 'Whoops Bagdad' entitled 'The Wazir Takes a wife' first broadcast on 25th Junuary 1973

Norman appears in a sketch on the popular game show 3-2-1 from Yorkshire Television, broadcast in January 1980